Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-24
A PAIR. 0FgWEEDDINGs.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE
From Harper's Bazaar.
"IOu don't say sO'',


at pretty Nanny Campbell, who sat at her feet on
an old-fashioned "cricket," the blaze OF the open
fire playing on her bright blushing face and lend
Ing richer shade OF gold to the crown OF f1ufTy
hair that hid her white forehead.
Nanny had come up to Traverse to spend Thanks
giving with her grandparents She came the day
before, bun her father and mother could not leave
| till the next morning. DR.. Campbell was too busy
man to spare more than day from his practice;
and Nanny was glad IocSme alone. for she had a
great piece Of RasYS 70 tell grandma. Yes, with a
deeper glow than the freight on her dropping face,
she impaired the wonderful Intelligence that she
| was engaged 70 Jack Norton, and was going to be
married on Christmas Now grandma was not really
much surprised for Jack Norton was the son OF
| DR.. CampbelPs Oldest and best friend, and the
| children mad known each other always Grandma,
| with the forecasting wisdom Of old ladies' had
prophesied to herself this result years ago, yet
she thought she was surprised to ind her proph-
| ecy fulfilled
Perhaps 1t never would have been had Nanny
and Jack lived next door TO each other always;
but when they were yet children Mr.. Norton had
left Ridgefeld and gone TO Boston TO live. And
Jack, moreover, had been sent to Germany for his
preparatory studies, and to England for his col
egfate education, so he was as good as a stranger
when he came home TO share his fathers business;
and when he saw pretty Nanny, who had bios
somed from plain angular little girl into lovely
| young woman, he fell in love with her after the
good old fashion, and she returned his passion
with all the faith and fervor Of girls FIRST serious
| affection.
Nanny had not announced the fact TO any but her
father and mother She was both shy aud cautious
so she waited TO tell grandma until the wedding
Grandma was ready with congratulations yet,
as sne drew the fair young head down to her knee
and strOked the bright hair with tremelous fingers
n
| LIE for the child she loved so well.
I'm kinder pleased, she confided to grandpa,
| In that grand committee OF two which married
people hold on matters that interest them or their
neighoors land I'm kinder distressed too. l don't
IKE nus Dein, lawyer; 'tnever seemed as though
twas areliable business, one tibet real honest
straightforward man could foller."
wen, said grandpa, thoughtfully, "you've got
Thes some lynn in all business You don't sell ali
the Dig ptatoes nor all the sound apples in the
same barrel ef you're farmer, nor you don't tell
man how old your critters be-not to a day. Do
you spose Tatum sells his dry goods an groceries
on the square always7 Don't we get poor drugs
II down, Parson Pitcher oon't write a sermon every
week, now tell ye There's suthin' bad to every
thing; faint heaven on earth down to Bosting,
no mOren Ills here to Traverse"
Wen, don know as it's replied grandma,
with sigh; "but anyhow wish't She wasn't gOin'
| TO be married in December"
And While Nanny was bustling round In the
kltchen The next morning, stirring cold milk into
the Indian pudding that To-day had the great oven
r.,
garnsn.n ing the tongues, keeping an eye on the
chicken pie that stood on tripod in the chimney
corner 10 keep 1t hot after 1t had been drawn from
The aforesaid oven, and doing for grandma all the
little odds and ends that are SO much work for old
people ami so little for young ones, grandma was
revolving In her mind certain good counses for
tne girl, which might or might not be accepted
ana acted upon; for grandma had old-fashioned
| Ideas. She spoke at last, her fingers meanwhile
Susy pairing potatoes for the pot that stood bub-
80 you're goin' TO be married Christmas day,
be you, Nanny"
NO. deaI-Chrstmas eve."
seems pretty cold time for a weddin'," said
grandma. taking up another potato.
wei, yes; Jack would not wait Till June, when
wanted 10 have 1t; he Said he never believed In
long engagements. And mother thinks just 90;
that Is, where people have known each other as
long as Jack and have"
Coin 10 be married In church, s'pose?"
on, yes; and then reception. Now you and
grandpa must come down; / want you to promise. !"
Nanny, TO go Junketin' round In midwintern
NO, you're not-not bit. The cars are warm,
ana mother OF II have re In your room and rs
maids, granny; all OF them pretty girls, TOO, in
low dresses OF lace and pink satin, with roses and
| Dr. Adams-yOu remember Everett Adams who
| studied with father-he's TO be best man."
! Land" CALCULATED grandma. "Ishould think
JACK would De the best man amongst EN-
"Well," laughed Nanny, with a blush that
would have been the precise tint for her brides
maids dresses ~ think he is; but that isn't what
"And what is low dresses?" queried grandma.
"Oh, low-necked- and with no sleeves: just a
strap across the shoulder. you know
"Good gTacious!" exclaimed the old lady, looking
over her spectaeles with glare of horror Il
should think that ,cas low! Dreadful low, too
why, gran, It's the fashion"
81 don't care no hing about that, child; it amt
! decent nor IL ant pretty. Who wants to see
them girls bones? and girls in these days haven't
got much more'n skin ana bones. Mabbe that
r,,fit no
skeleton than live one, II was a-goln' 10 be
studied by young DOCTOR"
"Grandma, do think you're dreadful! VIM
Alice Brooks has got neck and arms like n han
and Rosna Leavtts are lovely, too, II she is III
swell, anyway, call 1t cruelty to animals To
hev them girls go out in that condition Of q cold
winters ,s night a into big draughty church Be
ooh, no! It's not the fashion for brides I'm
goin to have white satin, high to the throat and
down TO the wrists with beautifulace all about it,
81 guess your pa wouldn't let you 90 any other
way dryly remarked grandma. ".' ''Ao'
81 guess ned have to, II twas the fashion,
swell, fools amt all dead YET retorted grand
ma, with some severity. "When I was married
twas daylight, and to home. Eben and me was
gong a0Wn 70 boston for spell; he was in Old
cloth habit with frogs onto 1t, and a big Leghorn
bonnet with white feather, real long and Curly,
an some req roses under the front ont, Twas
warm AN sensible for a long ride In September
and our folks thought looked considerable well. ;
nc olu iduy hecu udrk eyes and delicate aOut-
line profle, though the waved hair was now snow
white, and the small mouth had lost its color and
iulness made Nanny acquiesce In sour folks" YER
dict
IL guess you looked just lovely, grandma:
but
"say! here's the DOCTOR, screamed Thankful
Bangs who was setting the table for dinner and
Nanny's speech never was finished for she and
grandma rushed out TO meet the welcome guest
Two hours after, when the dinner had been dis
cuSSed and the guests were picking out their wal
nuts and outternuts, the last course
az traverse for Thanksgiving dinner, Mrs. Camp
Dell said suddenly, "Oh. Nanny! quite forpot
Here's little note that came for you after Won
left" ''N
Nanny took the envelope and after the fashion
or women eyed It on the outside, turned 1t over
and examined the seal, and then returned it and
Inspected again the direction and the postmark
'seerns 10 me II would be quicker way to find
out VINO wrote 1t II you opened IT," remarked DR..
Campbell.
Nanny laughed and broke the seal ooh dear,n
she said after running through the brief missive
Isn't this provoking! 1t is Aida Van Alstyne.
| Just hear:
"'MY DEAR NANNY.-I have only found out to-
day that your 'naids' intend to wear low dresses
never have given In TO that style yet but II /
could sacrifice what you would call my pre1udices
ana call my principles on any occasion or for
any one, 1t would be now for you. However, /
nave a threatening cold, which must nurse, and
perhaps you will remember that had pneumonia
last winter, so cannot, for my heath's sake wear
anything but o hgh-necked and long seeyed
dress. Now shall not feel at all aggrteyed II YOU
drop me from the company OF bridesmaids on this
account; but l want you to let me know lust as
Madame Deiano.
| "'Yours lovingly, Aida VAN ALsrYNI,
isn't II too bad!" exclaimed Nanny, as she laid
| down the note.